WVAS LocalNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94WVAS LocalWed, 21 Feb 2018 19:08:50 +0000WVAS Localhttp://wvasfm.org
Marcus HylesThe next three months are known in Alabama as the primary severe weather season. That’s why the National Weather Service, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and Governor Kay Ivey are designating this week as Severe Weather Awareness Week in the state. Officials want residents to spend this time making preparations and educating themselves on severe weather threats. Each day of the week a different topic is being emphasized. The list includes severe thunderstorms, flooding and flash flooding, tornadoes, lightning and weather alerts. Alabama does not conduct a statewide tornado drill, but emergency officials do encourage residents to have their own drills, to test safety plans in the event of severe weather.Severe Weather Awareness Week is underwayhttp://wvasfm.org/post/severe-weather-awareness-week-underway
115084 as http://wvasfm.orgTue, 20 Feb 2018 17:54:13 +0000Severe Weather Awareness Week is underwayMarcus HylesMontgomery County officials are warning residents about a scam involving fake court documents that make it seem like the victims owe money to the court. Montgomery County Circuit Clerk Tiffany McCord says a fake civil citation document is being sent to people that has what looks like a seal of the court and a counterfeit signature of Probate Judge Steven Reed. It may even include the victim’s personal information. McCord says they have received numerous calls about the scam. She advises residents that the court does not send out letters requesting money for missing court. If you receive such a civil citation, you are asked to call the circuit clerk’s office at 334-832-1260.Montgomery County officials warn of fake court document scamhttp://wvasfm.org/post/montgomery-county-officials-warn-fake-court-document-scam
115035 as http://wvasfm.orgMon, 19 Feb 2018 15:32:36 +0000Montgomery County officials warn of fake court document scamBrittney Jones-Dabney Every Thursday on WVAS, we will bring you the latest restaurant health inspection scores from the Montgomery County Department of Public Health. This week the department conducted a total of 63 inspections of food service and lodging establishments. Visit the Montgomery Health Department’s website for a full list of scores.Restaurant Report Card http://wvasfm.org/post/restaurant-report-card-8
114915 as http://wvasfm.orgFri, 16 Feb 2018 17:13:23 +0000Restaurant Report Card Marcus HylesThe Alabama House of Representatives has approved a revision of the state's "Stand Your Ground" law to specify that deadly force can be used to defend someone in a church. The Houses of Representatives approved the bill Thursday on a 40-16 vote. It now moves to the Alabama Senate. Republican Rep. Lynn Greer of Rogersville cited deadly church shootings in Tennessee and South Carolina. Greer said church members need the legal protection to "shoot back" if someone comes into a church to harm people. Democratic Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa said the bill was "pandering." England, a former prosecutor, said Alabama already has a self-defense law that would cover incidents in churches.A revision of Alabama's Stand Your Ground law passes the Househttp://wvasfm.org/post/revision-alabamas-stand-your-ground-law-passes-house
114914 as http://wvasfm.orgFri, 16 Feb 2018 16:18:36 +0000A revision of Alabama's Stand Your Ground law passes the HouseMarcus HylesLongtime Democratic state senator Hank Sanders announced Saturday that he will not run for re-election. Sanders has served nine terms in the state senate and had qualified to run for office this year. But, in a statement, The Selma senator said recent time with family made him realize it was time to back away. He said he has asked his daughter Malika Sanders-Fortier to qualify and run for the Senate District 22 seat and she has agreed. Sanders does plan to serve out the almost nine months left in his term.State Senator Hank Sanders bowing out of racehttp://wvasfm.org/post/state-senator-hank-sanders-bowing-out-race
114668 as http://wvasfm.orgMon, 12 Feb 2018 16:04:35 +0000State Senator Hank Sanders bowing out of raceBrittney Jones-Dabney Every Thursday on WVAS, we will bring you the latest restaurant health inspection scores from the Montgomery County Department of Public Health. This week the department conducted a total of 63 inspections of food service and lodging establishments. Visit the Montgomery Health Department’s website for a full list of scores.Restaurant Report Card http://wvasfm.org/post/restaurant-report-card-7
114490 as http://wvasfm.orgThu, 08 Feb 2018 22:18:41 +0000Restaurant Report Card Brittney Jones-Dabney Nearly 50 miles of road will be resurfaced in Montgomery County over the next 12 months. Montgomery County officials say the project will fix aging roadways in Pike Road and throughout the county. County Assistant Engineer Kevin Boone says the road improvement is the largest project the county has undertaken in a 12-month period. The improvements will cost $11 million total, with the bulk of the funding coming from federal money and the remaining in county money. County Assistant Engineer Kevin Boone says the average lifespan of asphalt is 10 years, making the improvements expensive but necessary. The project is the first road improvement of its kind since 2005. County officials expect the improvements to be completed by the end of the year. The roads to be resurfaced include: Pike Road from AL Hwy 80 to Wallahatchie Road (5.9 miles) Wares Ferry Road from the Montgomery city limits to Atlanta Hwy. (6 miles) Vaughn Road from Taylor Road to Chantilly Parkway (4.4 miles) Macon County RoadResurfacing project in Montgomery County http://wvasfm.org/post/resurfacing-project-montgomery-county
114459 as http://wvasfm.orgThu, 08 Feb 2018 16:03:35 +0000Resurfacing project in Montgomery County Marcus HylesLegislators got their first look at the proposed state education budget yesterday during a meeting of the House Ways and Means Education Committee. The 6.7 billion dollar spending plan is one of the largest in state history. Interim State Schools Superintendent Ed Richardson calls it an excellent budget. The budget includes money to hire 190 new teachers for grades 4-6, along with a 2.5 percent pay raise for all state education employees. It also includes a $20 million funding increase for the state's First Class Pre-K program. A public hearing was held on the budget yesterday. The committee approved the proposal this morning. It now moves to the full House.Alabama House committee approves education budget proposalhttp://wvasfm.org/post/alabama-house-committee-approves-education-budget-proposal
114407 as http://wvasfm.orgWed, 07 Feb 2018 16:47:48 +0000Alabama House committee approves education budget proposalMarcus HylesThe man suspected of criminal sexual misconduct in a child porn video has been taken into custody. Central Alabama CrimeStoppers reports that 44 year old Germaine Moore turned himself in to police around 2:30 this morning. The Millbrook man faces 11 counts of sexual misconduct related to a video that has been distributed nationally and globally, depicting him in a sex act with a child under the age of 13. Later today, Moore will be transported to the Elmore County Detention Facility. He is also wanted in Detroit on sexual assault charges of three girls. Meanwhile, Montgomery police have arrested 42 year old Jerrell Washington for distributing the video. They also warn that anyone who shares the video can be charged as well. Washington was placed in the Montgomery County Detention Facility under a 100-thousand dollar bond. The child from the video was located and is said to be safe, according to investigators.Millbrook man arrested in child porn videohttp://wvasfm.org/post/millbrook-man-arrested-child-porn-video
114344 as http://wvasfm.orgTue, 06 Feb 2018 16:07:45 +0000Millbrook man arrested in child porn videoMarcus HylesMontgomery police are looking into two murders that happened over the weekend. The first took place early Saturday morning in the 2-thousand block of East South Boulevard. Investigators say that 30 year old Sidney Johnson the Fourth was found shot to death at that location. During the investigation, 19 year old Leviticus Fuller was developed as a suspect. He turned himself in Sunday and is being held in the Montgomery County Detention Facility on a murder charge. Detectives believe the two men got into a verbal dispute, which led to the shooting. A second homicide was reported Sunday morning in the Capital City. An adult male was found suffering from a gunshot wound in the 18-hundred block of Winona Avenue. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was reportedly 20 years old. Detectives say the circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 625-2831, or the Secret WitnessTwo murders in Montgomery over the weekendhttp://wvasfm.org/post/two-murders-montgomery-over-weekend
114276 as http://wvasfm.orgMon, 05 Feb 2018 16:44:03 +0000Two murders in Montgomery over the weekendBrittney Jones-Dabney Alabama State University faculty, students, employees, and alumni will visit over 17 elementary schools in Montgomery and read to schoolchildren on Tuesday. The community service project, Read &Rise is a popular event during ASU’s 118th Founders’ Week celebration. Project Manager for Institutional Advancement, Taylor Noeller says the event aims to motivate children to read and become successful in life. “It’s a community outreach initiative that encourages the Hornet family to engage with the community, and also allows us to focus on local students to show them, the importance reading plays in their lives,” said Noeller. ASU President Dr. Quintin Ross is expected to be present along with a few of the universities College Deans and Division Vice Presidents. Volunteers are still needed for the afternoon session from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m., more information can be found by contacting tnoeller@alasu.edu.Alabama State University promotes reading in the communityhttp://wvasfm.org/post/alabama-state-university-promotes-reading-community
114273 as http://wvasfm.orgMon, 05 Feb 2018 15:55:47 +0000Alabama State University promotes reading in the communityMarcus HylesThe Alabama Department of Education has released the first report cards assigning letter grades to schools and school systems. The department said Thursday that 76 percent of the state's 137 school systems received an A, B or C. Montgomery Public Schools was one of 19 systems receiving a D. No school systems in the state scored an F. The cards are described as prototypes since the process is still being tweaked. The grades are based not just on the latest test scores, but how much students improve in reading and math from one year to the next. Legislators in 2012 voted to require A-F grades for schools and school systems. Federal law requires similar reports.Report cards have been issued for the state's schools and school systemshttp://wvasfm.org/post/report-cards-have-been-issued-states-schools-and-school-systems
114135 as http://wvasfm.orgFri, 02 Feb 2018 15:39:39 +0000Report cards have been issued for the state's schools and school systemsMarcus HylesPRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A collapsed sign along an Alabama highway saying "Go To Church or the Devil Will Get You!" will be erected again. AL.com reported Monday the family that owns the sign depicting a red-tailed Satan will post another, likely with the exact wording as the original. It stood for decades along Interstate 65 north of Prattville before a storm toppled it in fall 2016. The sign stands on private property owned by W.S. "Bill" Newell and his sons took over its maintenance after he died in 2009. His wife Althea Newell says the devil image was salvaged and will be used on a new signboard that's blank now. Newell says the new sign's posting depends on when crews from her husband's construction firm in Montgomery are available.Devil sign on Alabama interstate coming backhttp://wvasfm.org/post/devil-sign-alabama-interstate-coming-back
114015 as http://wvasfm.orgWed, 31 Jan 2018 16:30:07 +0000Devil sign on Alabama interstate coming backBrittney Jones-Dabney Advocates for the expansion of Alabama’s First Class Pre-K Program are urging legislators to prioritize money in this year’s budget to expand access to the voluntary Pre-K program. The proposed budget increase of $23 million dollars was suggested by Gov. Kay Ivey. Bob Powers, Co-chair of the Alabama School Readiness Alliance Pre-K Task Force says the increase allows accommodation for more children. If appropriated, this will bring total First Class Pre-K investments to $100.5 million for the fiscal year 2019 and could add approximately 200 new classrooms and enroll approximately 3,600 additional four-year-olds. Across the state, there are 941 Alabama First Class Pre-K classrooms located in various public and private schools, child care centers, faith-based centers, Head Start programs, and other community-based preschool settings. For 11-years in a row, it has been ranked the number one state-funded pre-kindergarten program in the country for quality by the National Institute for EarlyAdvocates push for Pre-K expansion http://wvasfm.org/post/advocates-push-pre-k-expansion
113976 as http://wvasfm.orgTue, 30 Jan 2018 23:03:49 +0000Advocates push for Pre-K expansion Marcus HylesAbsentee voting is open for the run-off election in District 26 next month. The run-off for the democratic nomination for the senate seat is between Montgomery City Councilman David Burkette and State Representative John Knight. It is set for Tuesday, February 27. Absentee voting will run through February 22. Montgomery County Circuit Clerk Tiffany McCord told media that absentee voting has been slow so far. The winner of the run-off will face Republican Darrell "DJ" Johnson in the general election, which is set for May 15. The District 26 seat came open when Quinton Ross left the office to become president of Alabama State University.Absentee voting is open for the District 26 senate seathttp://wvasfm.org/post/absentee-voting-open-district-26-senate-seat
113944 as http://wvasfm.orgTue, 30 Jan 2018 16:01:59 +0000Absentee voting is open for the District 26 senate seatMarcus HylesA fatal crash that happened in October of last year has resulted in the arrest of a Louisiana man. On October 31, three members of a transportation department survey crew were struck by a car in the 4-thousand block of Atlanta Highway. One of those men, 62 year old Leo Fournier of Montgomery, died from his injuries. Police say they have now charged 46 year old James Overstreet with murder in the case. According to a statement from police, forensic test results have confirmed that Overstreet was under the influence of an illegal substance when he ran into the crew. Overstreet, who turned himself in, has been placed in the Montgomery County Detention Facility under 150-thousand dollars bond.Police make arrest in fatal accident from Octoberhttp://wvasfm.org/post/police-make-arrest-fatal-accident-october
113766 as http://wvasfm.orgFri, 26 Jan 2018 16:57:45 +0000Police make arrest in fatal accident from OctoberBrittney Jones-Dabney Students, parents, teachers and elected officials across Alabama participated in a rally in support of National School Choice Week on Thursday. The event is a public awareness effort to promote education options such as charter schools, magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling. Ebraham Lee, School Choice advocate explained school choice means parents have the choice of choosing options outside of traditional public schools. “The education of our students determines the things that go on in our city, state, and nation,” said Lee. Virtual online student, Zoe Champion attends Alabama Connections Academy, she said this option has been more of a blessing that she would have ever thought. “Having a choice means getting to weave your own education path, it’s so important and I think that it builds leaders and successful people”, said Champion. Senator Del Marsh, Athens City Schools Superintendent, Dr. Trey Holladay and other supporters were on hand showing supportSchool Choice supporters gather downtown Montgomeryhttp://wvasfm.org/post/school-choice-supporters-gather-downtown-montgomery
113765 as http://wvasfm.orgFri, 26 Jan 2018 16:51:26 +0000School Choice supporters gather downtown MontgomeryBrittney Jones-Dabney Every Thursday on WVAS, we will bring you the latest restaurant health inspection scores from the Montgomery County Department of Public Health. This week the department conducted a total of 14 inspections of food service and lodging establishments. Visit the Montgomery Health Department’s website for a full list of scores.Restaurant Report Card http://wvasfm.org/post/restaurant-report-card-6
113759 as http://wvasfm.orgFri, 26 Jan 2018 15:25:53 +0000Restaurant Report Card Marcus HylesThe latest list of “failing” Alabama public schools was released yesterday on the State Department of Education’s website. The results were drawn from the state’s standardized test in the spring of 2017. Out of 1,325 public schools in Alabama, 75 landed on the list of those performing in the lowest 6 percent in math and reading on the ACT Aspire exam. In Montgomery, 11 schools were designated as failing – including several that remained on the list from last year. Those are Bellingrath Middle School, Capitol Heights Middle School, Few Secondary Acceleration Academy, as well as Carver, Jeff Davis, Lanier and Lee high schools. New to the list this year are Davis Elementary, Highland Avenue Elementary, E.D. Nixon elementary and Park Crossing High School. The definition of failing school was created in the Alabama Accountability Act in 2013 and was amended in 2015 to exclude schools that exclusively serve special populations of students with disabilities.New list of failing schools in Alabama is outhttp://wvasfm.org/post/new-list-failing-schools-alabama-out
113676 as http://wvasfm.orgThu, 25 Jan 2018 16:27:17 +0000New list of failing schools in Alabama is outMarcus HylesAn announcement for the new home of a U-S trainer jet facility could come in the next four months. That was part of an update provided by Joe Turnham, the Executive Director for the Macon County Economic Development Authority to a Montgomery civic club yesterday. Tuskegee is among three finalist cities to land the T-100 trainer jet project. Leonardo DRS has chosen Tuskegee as the site for a 250 million dollar manufacturing facility, should it be chosen for the contract. Turnham says the recent decision by the Air Force to bring the F-35 fighter jet to Montgomery can only help. The facility would employ as many as 750 people and create another 4-thousand supplier jobs. Officials have estimated the project would have around a 300 million dollar economic impact. St. Louis, Missouri and Greenville,South Carolina are the two other cities in the running for the facility.An update on the T100 trainer jet facility selection processhttp://wvasfm.org/post/update-t100-trainer-jet-facility-selection-process
113542 as http://wvasfm.orgTue, 23 Jan 2018 16:10:41 +0000An update on the T100 trainer jet facility selection process